CHSRA begins bid process for second phase of construction

After signing the construction contract for the first 29 miles of high-speed rail from Madera to Fresno, Calif., the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) called for contractors to submit their qualifications to bid on the next 60-mile phase of construction from Fresno south to the Tulare-Kern County line near Bakersfield.

"CHSRA is delivering on its voter-mandated mission to build the nation's first high-speed rail system, which provides economic benefits to the Central Valley and creates thousands of jobs," said Jeff Morales, CEO of CHSRA. "High-speed rail is a critical investment in California's transportation infrastructure to address population growth, congested roads and airports and air quality."

CHSRA is starting the process of finding a contractor for the next 60-mile construction phase by formally posting a Request for Qualifications for Construction Package 2-3 (CP 2-3). Firms will have until December 6 to submit their statement of qualifications. CHSRA will then review these applications and establish a shortlist of the most highly qualified firms to provide design-build services for the project. Firms will be selected based on experience, technical competency, ability to perform and other factors. The shortlisted firms will then be eligible to submit formal design-build proposals in 2014.

Work on CP 2-3 will extend approximately 60 miles through the Central Valley beginning at East American Avenue in Fresno and continuing south to approximately one mile north of the Tulare-Kern County line. The $1.5 to $2 billion design-build contract will bring thousands of jobs to the Central Valley. The route will also provide environmental benefits, relieve roadway congestion and spur economic development.

The selected design-build firm will be responsible for all work required to design and construct the CP 2-3 segment in the Central Valley. The work will include delivering final designs for bridges, culverts, trenches and tunnels, utility relocations, aerial structures, grade separations, tunnels, security and drainage. The environmental clearance for the route is already underway and is anticipated to be final by summer 2014.

Funding for CP 2-3 was appropriated in Senate Bill 1029 and approved by the state legislature in July 2012. It allocated $2.61 billion of Proposition 1A funds to match $3.24 billion in federal funds for a total of $5.9 billion to begin construction on the first 130 miles of high-speed rail infrastructure in the Central Valley.